The Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year Award is given annually by USA Hockey to an outstanding American-born female ice hockey player. It was first presented in 1994.[1]
In 2007, the name of the award was changed to honor the late Bob Allen, who was president of the New York State Amateur Hockey Association from 1954 to 1979 and served in high-ranking positions at USA Hockey from 1974 to 1999, including chairman of the women's national team for its gold medal victory at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Considered the godfather of American women's hockey, he played a major role in the development of girls' and women's hockey in the United States.[2][3]
Angela Ruggiero was the first defenseman to win the award, and the first player to win in consecutive years.Hilary Knight's two wins came eight years apart, in 2014 and 2022. As of 2024[update], she is one of six University of Wisconsin alumni to win the award.[4][5]Goaltender Aerin Frankel won the award in 2021.